Panathinaikos tabs big man Raduljica

Panathinaikos Athens bolstered its frontcourt for the foreseeable future by signing center Miroslav Raduljica to a two-year deal, the club announced on Saturday. Raduljica (2.13 meters, 27 years old) started last season with Shandong Flaming Bulls in China, posting 18.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.3 steals before moving to Minnesota in the NBA where he played five games on short-term contracts. A native of Serbia, Raduljica now reunites with coach Sasa Djordjevic, who is also the Serbian national team head coach. Both Djordjevic and Raduljica helped Serbia win a silver medal at the 2014 World Cup. Raduljica averaged 13 points and 4.6 rebounds in the tournament. Raduljica returns to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague after three seasons away. He made his Euroleague debut with Anadolu Efes Istanbul during the 2010-11 season and also played the following Euroleague campaign with Partizan Belgrade. Raduljica grew up with FMP Zeleznik, where he was the Serbian League’s top scorer and rebounder in the 2009-10 season. After his time with Efes and Partizan, he also spent a season with Azovmash Mariupol in Ukraine and Milwaukee in the NBA. At the national team scene, Raduljica also won a silver with Serbia at EuroBasket 2009. At youth levels, he helped Serbia win gold medals at the U18 European Championships in 2005, U19 World Championships in 2007 and U20 European Championships in 2008, where he was named the tournament's MVP.